Snape hesitated, struggling with his emotions, but finally, he took a deep breath, his inner flict giving way to desperation.

  "Please… hide her, hide them. I’m begging you!" His voice was raw, pleading with emotion.

  Dumbledore’s gaze softened slightly, but he asked calmly, "And what are you willing to give iurn, Snape?"

  Snape’s face reflected a brief moment of helplessness before he spoke with quiet determination.

  "Anything. Anything you need."

  Dumbledore saw the resolve in Snape’s eyes. He nodded, his voice gentle. "Very well. I’ll do everything I to protect Lily and her family. If there’s any ge in Voldemort’s pns, you know how to reach me."

  Snape nodded, numb from the weight of the moment. After a pause, he asked, "Is that Alex you mentiohe one who helped Sirius escape that day?"

  Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled slightly. "Yes. He’s also been sorted into Slytherin—just like you. But I must say, he has a far stronger resolve."

  "A Slytherin? Maybe I made the wrong choice after all…" Snape murmured, handing Dumbledore a small vial. "Pass this on to him. It’s a thank you, for his help."

  Dumbledore accepted the vial, a smile toug his lips. "Perhaps one day, you’ll be able to thank him in person."

  Meanwhile, Alex was fast asleep, unaware of the versation. The m, James took him to retrieve his belongings from Sirius’s house. With his magical bag, Alex could carry everything he owned in one pce. James was visibly shocked at the transformation Sirius’s house had undergone.

  "So… you actually tidied up the pce for him? That’s impressive," James said, his view of Alex rising even further.

  Alex shrugged it off, and they headed to St. Mungo’s Hospital to visit Sirius. As expected, Sirius was far from resting. He was busy doing some training. If it weren’t for James and Alex’s visit, he likely wouldn’t have stayed in the hospital at all.

  After a brief visit with Sirius, Alex and James returo the Potters’ home for lunch. Lily watched Alex, who ying with little Harry, and smiled warmly.

  "Alex, while you’re staying here, if you ever need help with anything, just ask. You’ve done so much for us."

  "You’re already doing plenty, really. I’m just grateful to be here."

  Lily exged a look with James, then added thoughtfully, "Well, I know you’ve taken an i in protective charms and amulets. I’d be happy to teach you as much as I while you’re here. The Potter family library is also open to you. I think you’ll find it very useful."

  Alex’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? That would be amazing! Professor Flitwick always said you were his most taleudent, and I have so many questions I’d love to ask."

  Lily smiled, recalling her own school days and feeling a fondness for Alex’s eagero learn. His curiosity, bined with his diligent nature and his Slytherin roots, reminded her of an old friend. She gnced down at Harry, who chose that moment to start g, breakihought.

  After lunch, once Harry was settled down for a nap, Lily led Alex to the underground safe room. It had beee of a ret intetle but was now and spacious, perfect for practig spells.

  Standing in the ter of the room, Lily addressed Alex, "I’ve seen you use the Levitation Charm Wingardium Leviosa and the Summoning Charm Accio. They’re both excellent, and I tell you’ve put a lot of effort into them. If you want, you practice here, and I’ll spar with you or answer any questions you have."

  Alex thought for a moment, gathering his thoughts before saying, "I’ve been practig the Shield Charm retly, but I ’t seem to get it right. Sometimes it fails pletely, and eve works, it’s not as strong as I’d like. It’s nothing like the Barrier Charm, which seems much easier to trol. What am I doing wrong?"

  "You’re w on the Shield Charm already?" Lily asked, surprised. "That’s a difficult spell, even for adult wizards. Most new Aurors struggle with it."

  "Is it really that hard?" Alex asked, scratg his head. "I didn’t find the intation all that plicated."

  Lily houghtfully. "Why don’t you try casting it for me? Let’s see what’s happening."

  Alex nodded and lifted his wand. "Protego!" he said, fog all his energy on casting the Shield Charm.

  Magic surged from within, and at the tip of his wand, a faint, shield-like shimmer began to form. But it was fragile, wavering in the air for just a few seds before vanishing, like a soap bubble popping.

  Lily watched with surprise. Despite his young age, Alex could almost cast the Shield Charm—something that required remarkable trol ic. When she had first learhe charm, she had struggled to get as at all, even with the corretation.

  "Try it a few more times," Lily instructed, intrigued.

  Alex repeated the charm over and over, yet each attempt resulted iher a faint flicker or a thin, feeble shield that faded away too quickly.

  After him closely, Lily o herself and finally spoke. "I think I see what’s happening here. You’re saying the spell perfectly, and yitrol is excellent, but it’s still difficult for you to maintain the charm. That’s pletely normal for someone ye."

  Alex tilted his head, fused. "Wait, so the spell is fine, my trol is good… but it still doesn’t wht? Why?"

  Smiling, Lily expined, "Let me put it another way. You’re from a Muggle background, so think of it like water pipes and valves. Casting a spell is like opening a valve, and yic flows out like water through a pipe. But unlike solid pipes, the magic pipes inside us are flexible, more like a hose."

  She tinued, "Good trol lets you direct the water—the magic—smoothly, and with practice, you even trol the flow rate and power. If your trol isn’t strong, magic will spill or flow unevenly. But you don’t have that issue; your trol is amazing. The real problem is the size of the pipe itself."